Surprisingly, this
is a rather difficult section of any web site to develop.
I don't necessarily believe in commercial links, but some
are included here because these company's products were used
to create the photographs you've been viewing, I've mentioned
these products in the narratives or the company offers clearly
the finest products of their type available. Further, the
astronomy sites on the web are among the most extensive and
fascinating, making a finite list really impossible to produce.
With these parameters in mind, here are some cool links to
explore.

SpaceWeather.com
-- is a wonderful general astronomy site, with loads of current
photographs and daily-updated info. I've been using this site
recently to check out the up-to-the-minute information of
the 2001 Leonids and Auroral activity triggered by solar flares.
I would recommend this site be visited every day if you are
an enthusiast.

Astronomy
Picture of the Day -- "Discover the cosmos! Each
day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe
is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional
astronomer." Check out also the fabulous archives, spanning
several years.

Sky
and Telescope Online
-- Sky and Telescope Magazine's official web site.
Both this site and Astronomy magazine's site below should
be bookmarked, as they include current events, star charts
and many observing tips.

Astronomy
Online
-- Astronomy Magazine's official web site. I recently
attended the June 21, 2001 Zimbabwe Total Solar Eclipse with
Astronomy Magazine's tour. The whole deal, set up by A1Speciality
Tours of Florida, was superb. More later, including many
photographs (some even of the eclipse!) and additional narratives.

NASA
home page
-- NASA's official web site, with extensive links. Many feel
this is the outstanding web site of the entire Internet. I
agree!

Hubble
Space Telescope Images
-- A subset of NASA's site, I wept when I first viewed the
content of this site. The Hubble Space Telescope is simply
the apex of human technological achievement, and its photographs
are the most significant ever taken. If you visit no other
link, go to Hubble now!

Astronomical
Museum at Mount Wilson
-- is a great site honoring Mt. Wilson Observatory, which
once housed the premier astronomical instrument in the world.
Light pollution (see my rave in the
narratives) had rendered it optically unusable, but no
more. It has been given a new lease on life, and this site
gives you the rundown. Use your search engine to find the
web sites of other famous observatories; some even allow software
hookup with their on-site CCD imaging cameras. Really, you
can sit back, have a cup of coffee, open the dome and take
astrophotographs from the computer you are now using. Unbelievable!

International
Dark Sky Association -- is a nonprofit membership based
web site dedicated to education concerning possibly the largest
single issue now threatening Earth-based astronomical activities.
When was the last time you saw the great star cloud in Sagittarius?
Imagine a world without dark skies. Light pollution is a real
issue, and as such requires all of us to be educated and committed.

SETI@home
-- is a site dedicated to (of course) the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence. Recently I read an article suggesting that we
actually may be alone. From childhood (ever since looking
skyward, as many of you probably can also relate) I have been
sure that there are others out there. It would be profoundly
and spiritually shattering to me if the above mentioned article
was really true. Now we can all participate in this search
(and prove the article wrong!); when (not if) such extraterrestrial
intelligence is "discovered" our collective arrogance
and loneliness will be forever dashed. It will be the most
important day in the history of humanity. I'm very proud of
the award and comments as pictured below:

"Dear
Willis Greiner,

Congratulations
on recently completing your 100th SETI@home workunit. Through
your support, SETI@home has grown to become the largest distributed
computation on Earth. We at SETI@home greatly appreciate the
1.25 years of computer time you have donated to the project,
and hope that you will continue your support."

National
Optical Astronomical Observatory's -- site is the web
address of the United States' National Observatory complex
atop Kitt Peak, Arizona. From here you can explore their extensive
array of professional opportunities, take a virtual tour of
some of the facilities and learn more about (and perhaps reserve
observing time!) with the Advanced
Observing Program we were fortunate enough to participate
in (as described in the "Digital CCD"
gallery of this web site.) You can even peruse their posting
of the images we obtained during our visit in November of
1999.

Software
Bisque
-- is the developer of the finest software used to access
remote telescopes. They also produce more "pedestrian"
planetarium programs, also the finest made. This is a homegrown
Colorado firm, located in Golden.

Losmandy
Astronomical Products -- produces very well-machined German
equatorial mounts and other fine accessories for the astronomical
community. Scott Losmandy is absolutely accessible, helpful
and backs his products 110 percent. My 11-inch permanently-mounted
Celestron is beautifully carried by this mount.

Celestron
International
-- manufactures telescopes and accessories as well. Their
initial research and invention of mass-producible Schmidt-Cassegrain
optical configurations paved the way for the astrophotography
applications of today. I believe their optics are the best
of this configuration available. (I use one of their first
"Celestron-Pacific" 8-inch telescopes as well as
a larger, more automated 11-inch model.)

Sienna
Software's
"Starry Night Deluxe" -- is simply the best of the
general purpose planetarium programs. It is my desktop (armchair)
favorite.

Richard
Berry's Books and Cookbook
CCD Camera Home Page -- are web locations featuring the
works of Richard Berry, one of the pioneers of the CCD imaging
revolution. His concern is education and a fascination with
"building your own" CCD imager. The "Choosing
and Using" book is possibly the best resource on the
basics of CCD imaging. If you have fully mastered the techniques
discussed in this small and easy-to-read resource, you will
produce some very fine CCD images.

Willis
Greiner Photography is my "general-purpose"photographic
web site featuring a mixed bag of images. It includes astronomical
images, of course, but also nature and black and white hand-painted
themes. I'm especially proud of the Zimbabwe narratives, accessed
through the "new" African
Galleries link.

Other links are
noted as a part of my continuing "Under
the Night Sky" newsletter. Good luck! I know that
this list is so incomplete, it's laughable. However, it should
get you going, so start your search engines. Also, most of
these sites have excellent linking resources as well. Explore
them. If you discover a great site, e-mail
me with the link and I'll add it to this list, when appropriate.

revised 03/15/03

Please call 303.838.2459 to place your order.

All images
and narratives copyright Willis Greiner, all rights reserved.